Vibration washer and steering knuckle



Feb. 23, 1954 s. GORE VIBRATION WASHER AND STEERING KNUCKLE Filed March 30, 1953 INVENTOR- ore ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 23, 1954 :Zi'S'TTAL-ITE "jVlBRATIONfWASHEEAND -STEERING K NUCKLE eSam-Gore, VerofBeacmEla, 2 Application Marcli'30, 1953;S'1i1ilN0'. 3451661 -ziflla'ims. Cl."=287- 9 0) vehicle can be accurately turned: or controlled,

-.the steering. knuckle including a vibration washer v which isconstructediso that the parts willznot accidentally work :loosesduring use ofthe mecha- 1 nism' of the present invention.

A Still: another. object -of-the :invention. is to .cprovide: an adjustable steering knuckle which. includesmeans for providingssuflicient lubrication to .thelmovingparts and whereinthe device can beeasilyadjusted toeliminate any shimmy action I which may. develop :during use.

A still further .objectof atheinvention: is sto provide. an adjustable steering-knuckle andvibraa etion. washer 'whichxcan' be readily adjusted :and ";which can: be constructed fromiscrap -.metal for emergency repairs, .the'present inventionadapted to: 1 be. used onrany vehicle whichi'requires inde- ;..pendent'steering and which assubject to 'shock, impact, and vibration which ultimately '-leads to). shimmy,-.z.there being aimeansuforv :lubricating the moving parts so that the life expectancyvof the-lainvention will be greatly increased.

A further object of the invention is to provide alvibration washer and adjustable" steering knuckle which is extremely. simple and inexpensive to, manufacture.

, c ,Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description. :1'In1the accompanyingdrawings, forming av part 1 of: this application, and in-which like numerals tare used to designate like- $3 1 (Figure 1 is asideelevationalvi'ew of the steering knuckle of "the "present' invention.

Figure 2 is a, vertical"? sectional view taken through the steering knuckle.

Figure3, is a bottomjplan viewof the vibration washer.

Figured is a sectional view'taken onthe line 4-4 of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the vibration washer.

Figure 6 is a plan view washer.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral l designates a. bracket which may be fabricated of any suitable material such as metal,

of a modified vibration parts throughout the and the bracket l o in cludes a straight portion" I e that is=provided:with a' socket' -I2. ::-Arranged at right angles with respect to the' straightLportion H -with is afinger' l4 which iis prov-ided withia' longitudinally extendingthreaded'bore' and secured thereto or formed integral there- I 5. The numeral 1 6 .-desi'gnates a body rm'em-ber which is arranged contiguous to the bracketl 0,

Figure 2, and the bodyr memberml 6* includes a plate portion 17 which may-:be secured-tothe str-aight portion l Itbyssuitable securing elements "such as pins 'vided in the plateuportion I1 oil or othertisuitableilubricant 1 into aiplurality oft igroovesvor veins -ZO. -=The grooves 20 communicatewith a" socket 2 -and 18. AJ-suitable .opening l9=iszprowhereby grease or can be introduced 1'. the socket 2 l "cooperateswwith the socket l2-for pivotally' or rotatably receiving therein a ball' 23. An apertured bushing 24=may be=arranged in engagementzwith the opening.

I 9 whereby the :lubriacant: can :be introduced into the grease veins-"zo and also into grease veins in the bracket l0.

= Formed integral with-the plate portion I! or -22- which is provided min-the finger I 4. -A suitable securing element .xand'; surrounding- 23 is a resilient- 5 .serves to maintain the oil or'grease in the lubrientering the interior of the such as a bolt 27 has a threadedstem 28 arranged i in threaded engagement with the bored 5 in the finger M. The bolt 21hasahead'29 on its outer end.

p Secured to themovableball 23= is a shank 3 I, the exterior portion of the ball skirt-30. The rubber skirt -30 cation veins and also serves to prevent dirt from device.

Circumposedon a the threadedstem 28 and interposed between thehead-29 and thesleeve-22 is a vibration washer 32. The-washer32 includes aecentral opening 33 s fer-the projection therethrough of thestem fiil and arranged on one side of the washer 32 is a; plurality of radially ex- '-'tending ribs 34, there being ribs :35 on the other sidelof the washer. Thesec-ribsr34and-35serve to :insure'that theparts-:will hot accidentally'work :Iloose:evena thoughsthei present:- .invention may: be

subjected to great vibration or shock. Instead of using the washer 32, shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the washer 36, shown in Figure 6, may be used. The washer 36 again includes the central opening 31 for the projection therethrough of the stem 28, and a portion of the surface of the washer 36 may be knurled as at 38 to insure that there will be better gripping action between the washer and its adjacent parts. An arm 39 extends from the sleeve 22, and the arm 39 may be connected to the steering rod of a vehicle. The shank 3| may be connected to the spindle of a vehicle. A suitable gasket 40 may be interposed between the plate portion H and the straight portion II.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that an adjustable steering knuckle and vibration washer has been provided which is especially suitable for use as part of the steering mechanism of a vehicle. The shank 3| may be connected to a spindle, and the arm 39 may lead to a suitable connection on the steering rod. In the event that any looseness develops it is only necessary to tighten the bolt 21 so that any tendency towards shimmy will be eliminated. The ball 23 can be lubricated by inserting grease or oil into the veins 20 and 25. The washer 32 having the ribs or knurling thereon will provide a positive grip between itself and the adjacent parts so there will be no accidental working loose of these parts. The rubber skirt 30 will prevent loss of lubricant and also prevent dirt from accidentally entering the moving parts. The bolt 27 is adjustable and the washer 32 has a conical shape. The size or dimensions of the parts may be varied in order to meet varying load requirements. The ball 23 permits the shank 31 to pivot through as much as 60 degrees.

The steering device of the present invention can be easily adjusted or repaired in order to eliminate any shimmy action that may occur. The body member and bracket may be made of steel and can be made of scrap metal for emergency repair. This invention is adapted to be used on any vehicle which requires independent steering and which is subject to shock, impact, or vibration which ultimately leads to shimmy. Thus, the sealed lubrication including the grease veins will increase the life expectancy of the device and there will be a minimum of wear on the ball and shank.

I claim:

1. In a steering knuckle, a body member including a sleeve portion and a plate portion, an arm extending transversely from said sleeve portion, a bracket arranged contiguous to said body member and including a finger seated in said sleeve portion and a flat portion arranged adjacent to said plate portion, there being opposed cooperating sockets in said plate and flat portions, a ball seated in said sockets, a shank extending from said ball, a securing element extending through said finger and arranged in engagement therewith, and a head mounted on an end of said securing element.

2. In a steering knuckle, a body member including a sleeve portion and a plate portion, an arm extending transversely from said sleeve portion, a bracket arranged contiguous to said body member and including a finger seated in said sleeve portion and a flat portion arranged adjacent to said plate portion, there being opposed cooperating sockets in said plate and flat portions, a ball seated in said sockets, a shank extending from said ball, a securing element extending through said finger and arranged in engagement therewith, a head mounted on an end of said securing element, and a washer circumposed on said securing element and interposed between said head and sleeve portion.

3. In a steering knuckle, a body member including a sleeve portion and a plate portion, an arm extending transversely from said sleeve portion, a bracket arranged contiguous to said body member and including a finger seated in said sleeve portion and a flat portion arranged adjacent to said plate portion, there being opposed cooperating sockets in said plate and flat portions, a ball seated in said sockets, a shank extending from said ball, a securing element extending through said finger and arranged in engagement therewith, a head mounted on an end of said securing element, a washer circumposed on said securing element and interposed between said head and sleeve portion, said washer including an annular conical member provided with a central opening, and a plurality of radially extending ribs arranged on each surface of said washer.

4. A steering knuckle comprising a body member provided with a plate portion and a sleeve, said plate portion having a socket therein, there being a plurality of spaced lubrication grooves communicating with said socket, said plate portion being provided with an opening for the ingress therethrough of a lubricating medium, a bracket arranged contiguous to said body member and provided with a straight portion having a socket for cooperation with the socket in said plate portion, there being lubrication grooves in said straight portion, said sleeve being provided with a chamber therein, a finger extending from said straight portion and seated in said chamber, there being athreaded bore in said finger, a securing element having a threaded stem arranged in engagement with said bore, a head mounted on the outer end of said stem, a washer circumposed on said stern and interposed between said head and sleeve, a ball movably mounted in said sockets, a shank secured to said ball, a resilient skirt secured to the outer portion of said bracket, said washer including a curved body portion provided with a central opening for the projection therethrough of said stem, and a plurality of radially extending ribs on each surface of said washer.

SAM GORE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

